Beckman sets national NHRA Funny Car record

The Associated Press

MOHNTON, Pa.— Funny Car title contender Jack Beckman set a national record en route to his fourth No. 1 qualifying position of the season Saturday in the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals.

After a dominating performance Friday, Beckman powered his Dodge Charger to a time of 4.003 seconds in his first qualifying attempt Saturday. That was quick enough to certify his 3.989 effort from Friday as an NHRA national record. Beckman, who trails series points leader Ron Capps by 17 points, will earn a 20-point bonus if he hangs onto the record following the completion of Sunday’s eliminations.

"At this track, anything can happen at any round," Beckman said. "Cruz went a 3-second run and it’s the first time two Funny Cars have done it at the same track. It wouldn’t surprise me to see somebody else did it tomorrow as well. Those 20 points would mean a whole lot to us. Records are cool."

David Grubnic led the Top Fuel qualifiers, Jason Line topped the Pro Stock field, and Eddie Krawiec led in Pro Stock Motorcycle in the fourth of six events in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship.

Grubnic had a run of 3.728 at 327.11 mph to earn his first No. 1 qualifying position this season and first since 2008. His time tied the quickest Top Fuel run in history, and he could certify it as a national record during the final eliminations. Morgan Lucas, who qualified second with a 3.733, set the Top Fuel national record on that run.

In Pro Stock, defending event winner Line claimed the top spot in a Chevy Camaro with a run of 6.515 at 212.36. It is his seventh No. 1 of the season, 31st of his career.

Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Krawiec rode his Harley-Davidson to his fourth No. 1 of season and 13th of his career with a performance of 6.799 at 196.56.